What Employees Are Hiding About Their Mobile Habits

By Don Reisinger |
Posted 10-17-2012

What Employees Are Hiding About Their Mobile Habits

They Don’t Read Your Use PoliciesIf there’s anything to be learned from employees, it’s that they don’t really care about your use policies. When you hand over a smartphone or tablet to them, they think they own it. And the last thing they want is to be told how to use them.

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They Download AppsYou might not like the idea of your employees downloading apps, but guess what: they do. A lot. In fact, they’re probably downloading apps at this very moment that have no business purpose.

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They Access Insecure Wi-Fi NetworksYou tell your employees that they shouldn’t access insecure wireless networks. And yet, whenever they go to a coffee shop or want to jump on the Web without using data, they do just that. Be worried.

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They Use Social NetworksSocial networks are major security issues for mobile users. After all, many people go to those services to share malicious links, and some folks might unwittingly click on them. It’s a major issue.

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They Access Unsafe Web SitesYou have to expect your employees will access unsafe Web sites. The Web is swimming with sites that will wreak all kinds of havoc on devices. Unfortunately, your employees are likely to go to those sites, thinking they’re surfing safely.

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Personal Use Is NormalDon’t be surprised if you see an employee talking to a family member on their corporate smartphone or sending out iMessages on the iPad. It’s normal. And unfortunately, there’s nothing you can do about such usage.

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Physical Security Is an AfterthoughtHow many times have you been at a Starbucks, only to see someone get up and leave their smartphone or tablet on the table? For enterprise users, that’s a major security breach that could see important corporate data stolen.

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They Don’t Care If You’re WatchingYou can tell your employees all day long that you’re watching their actions on mobile devices, but in the vast majority of cases, they just don’t care. To them, smartphones and tablets are their own devices, and if you don’t like it, tough.

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They’ll Find Ways Around the BlockadeSometimes, companies will institute blockades on devices, stopping employees from accessing certain applications or communicating with the wrong people. But guess what? Your employees will still find ways to do what they want.

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They Only Like iPhonesYou might like to hand over BlackBerry devices or try out some Android tablets, but at the end of the day, all your employees really want is an iPhone and an iPad. To employees, getting their hands on Apple devices is ideal. And if you don’t deliver, they’re just not happy.